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Nighttime at the Potsdamer Platz
Thursday, July 19, 2001; posted by Paris
Before dinner we drove down the Karl-Marx Allee in East Berlin and saw massive soviet-style apartment complexes, lining each side of the road like a mirror images. As far as the eye could see, these massive complexes went on. However, when we turned down a side street, the folly of communism was evident. Buildings built after the war were literally crumbling. Concrete facades falling off, exposed brick, unsafe porches and derelict yards made these areas seem almost like they were abandoned. However, much money has gone into renovating many of the buildings and there were many examples of successful efforts. We had a good dinner in one of these renovated buildings.
We followed our late dinner with some coffee and local beer at the Sony complex on the Potsdamer Platz. This area is still has a number of undeveloped fields. However, there are three glorious, modern structures that have been built within the past 10 years.
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This picture is from the Kurfürstendamm at night (not the Potsdamer Platz), near our hotel. The Kranzler Cafe has been preserved on top of this building.
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This is a night shot of the DB offices (tall building) and the Sony Center complex (to the right) which has been designed to look like Mt. Fuji. (st)
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A series of curved buildings surround this courtyard affair. The ceiling is covered, like the top of a tent, with a plastic that is designed to look like Mt. Fuji. At night, alternating colors are displayed on the ceiling. (st)
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In the center of the courtyard is a big fountain with colors and dancing water spouts. The whole area is filled with tables from cafes. (st)
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